Category: General

RITAVI – The South African Police Service in Ritavi outside Tzaneen are investigating a case of a missing person following the disappearance of a 20-year-old man, Nhlamulo Mathebula from Dan village.

The victim is reportedly mentally disabled and was last seen on 17 May 2021 when he left home without informing anyone about his destination.

The type of clothes he was wearing are unknown.

Police are appealing to anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the investigating officer Detective Constable Amukelani Rikhotso at 0787917969 or the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or the nearest Police station or MySAPSApp.

Police search operation and investigations are still continuing

Source: South African Police Service

LAGOS, NIGERIA – Nigeria’s government said Friday it was suspending Twitter indefinitely in Africa’s most populous nation, a day after the company deleted a controversial tweet President Muhammadu Buhari made about a secessionist movement.

It was not immediately clear when the suspension would go into effect as users could still access Twitter late Friday, and many said they would simply use VPNs to maintain access to the platform.

Others mocked the government for using the platform to announce the action.

“You’re using Twitter to suspend Twitter? Are you not mad?” one user tweeted in response.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed said Friday that government officials took the step because the platform was being used “for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

Mohammed criticized Twitter for deleting the post. “The mission of Twitter in Nigeria is very suspicious,” he said, adding that Twitter had in the past ignored “inciting” tweets against the Nigerian government.

Twitter deleted Buhari’s post on Wednesday, calling it abusive, after the president threatened suspected separatist militants in the southeast.

More than 1 million people died during the 1967-70 civil war that erupted when secessionists sought to create an independent Biafra for the ethnic Igbo people. Buhari, an ethnic Fulani, was on the opposing side in the war against the Igbos.

In recent months, pro-Biafra separatists have been accused of attacking police and government buildings, and Buhari vowed to retaliate and “treat them in the language they understand.”

Source: Voice of America

COOKHOUSE – SAPS endeavours to remove illicit drugs from our streets yielded positive results when a 21-year-old suspect was arrested in possession of drugs.

On Friday 04 June 2021 Grahamstown K9 member Captain Percy Benn, a dog handler together with Cookhouse Crime Prevention members followed up on information on drug dealing in Cookhouse.

The team confiscated 28 full mandrax tablets and a substantial amount of cash after executing a search warrant at a residence in Jasen Street, Cookhouse.

The estimated street value of the drugs is about R 2260-00.

The suspect is due to appear before the Somerset East Magistrates Court soon.

Cookhouse Station Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Ferreira, commended the members and thanked Captain Percy Benn for his assistance on arresting the suspect and the recovery of the drugs.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – Sivuyile Mpemnyama (38) was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment by the Khayelitsha Priority Court yesterday, 03 June 2021.

Sivuyile was part of a group of armed suspects who robbed crew members from the Qiniseka Security Company in Vredenburg on 27 August 2018. The suspects threatened the guards with firearms before they fled the scene with an orange canvas bag, containing more than R89 000-00.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team swiftly linked the accused to the crime through DNA and was arrested on the same day at an informal settlement. An orange canvas moneybag was recovered close to where he was hiding in different clothing. It was also proved in court that the accused was indeed observing the financial institution by means of cellular evidence.

The team ensured that the accused remained in custody until he was ultimately convicted and sentenced. The court convicted Mpemnyama on three counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances, illegal possession of firearm and possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment.

The Acting Provincial Head of the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Hoys applauded the team for sterling efforts.

Source: South African Police Service

POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has greatly welcomed the hefty sentence meted out by the Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane on Friday 04 June 2021 against a 52-year-old lawyer, Senyatsi Lucas Phasha who was convicted of killing his four children.

The accused was convicted on four counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the murders.

Lucas Phasha, who is a lawyer by profession was arrested on 17 February 2020, the same day he brutally killed his four children Katlego (9), Joyce (7), Tshepo (5) and Adel (2). The bodies of the four children were found in two separate locations at Ga-Phasha Selatole village outside Burgersfort in Limpopo.

Three children were found hacked to death with an axe, and the fourth, the youngest, had her head bludgeoned against a huge rock.

“This sentence should send a strong message that perpetrators of similar horrendous crimes will be dealt with harshly to put an end to any possible recurrence”, said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

“We take this opportunity to commend the investigators who were assigned with the mammoth task of probing these gruesome murders and also thank community members for providing valuable information that led to the arrest of this man”, she concluded.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – The Acting ZF Mgcawu District Commander, Brig Johnny Besnaar commended the ZF Mgcawu District Team who executed drug operations during the early hours of 04 June 2021 in Augrabries and Kakamas targeting drug dealers.

The collective team comprising of ZF Mgcawu District office, Upington K9, Upington Crime Intelligence and Kakamas detectives executed early morning raids at four(4) houses in the Marchand informal settlement in Augrabies and one(1) premises in the Hash Valley informal settlement in Kakamas.

The first location was swooped on at 01:30 in the Marchand informal settlement where a 39-year-old male was arrested and 281kg of dagga with an estimated street value of 2 million rand was seized.

The second location was raided at 02:00 and two males were arrested and 6,10kg of dagga valued at R42 700-00 was confiscated.

The third house was searched at 02:30 where one (1)male was arrested and 8,7 kg of dagga valued at R61 250-00 was seized and at the fourth house another male was arrested and 24,20kg of dagga confiscated valued at R169 400-00.

The last location was raided in the Hash Valley informal settlement in Kakamas where a 28-year-old male was arrested for dealing in drugs and where mandrax tablets and TIK with a street value of R6 975-00 were seized.

The five(5) male suspects will soon appear in the Kakamas Magistrates court on charges of dealing and possession of drugs.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner,Maj Gen Johan Bean applauded the collective team for their relentless efforts in eradicating and removing drugs from society.

Source: South African Police Service